http://www.stampandcoin.co.uk JANUARY 2016 37GUERNSEY
NEW STAMPS FROM GUERNSEY, ISLE OF MAN & JERSEY
Guernsey Post issue a third set of stamps as part of its Lunar New Year
series on 20 January, joining Jersey and a host of other nations with
stamps celebrating the Year of the Monkey.
Guernsey’s stamps have been designed in collaboration with Sydney-
based illustrator Chrissy Lau, who has worked on all three issues in
the Lunar New Year series. ‘I took inspiration for the stamps from
the legendary Sun Wukong, or Monkey King, a popular depiction in
Chinese paintings, cartoons, plays, films and puppet shows,’ Chrissy Lau
said. ‘A key character in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West,Sun Wukong is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural
powers through Taoist practices. He is famous for stealing the peaches of
immortality of the Jade Emperor’s sacred garden; peaches are a regular
feature in Chinese imagery and represent longevity.’
The 42p stamp depicts a monkey holding a peach, a scene often given as a
gift at Chinese New Year to wish the recipient a long life. The monkey’s chest
on the 56p stamp shows the Chinese symbol ‘Ji’ which means luck.
The 68p stamp depicts a mother and baby, sitting under a peach tree
with a Chinese floral design pattern commonly found on Chinese ceramics
and textiles. On another stamp a monkey is picking and collecting peaches
with a cloud pattern in the body to symbolise peace and good fortune. The
peony pattern represents wealth and advancement in life (57p).
Another common depiction is seen on the 62p value, a baby monkey
on the back of another monkey which is often seen in Chinese imagery
and sculptures and means ‘may generations of your descendants become
government officials or of noble rank’. The 77p stamp depicts three
monkeys carrying a Chinese cabbage, which symbolises wealth.Year of the Monkey
Stamp details
Issue date: 20 January, 2016
Design: Chrissy Lau
Printer: Lowe Martin, offset lithography
Perforations: 13.3
42p - monkey standing proudly holding a peach
56p - monkey hanging from lotus fl ower
57p - monkey picking and collecting peaches
62p - baby monkey on the back of another monkey
68p - mother and baby, sitting under a peach tree
77p - three monkeys carrying a Chinese cabbageSmart, quick witted and ambitious – three of
the characteristics you’re said to have if you
were born in the Chinese Year of the Monkey,
which falls in 2016. Like Guernsey, Jersey Post
marks the start of the Chinese New Year with
a Year of the Monkey stamp and miniature
sheet illustrated by Beijing artist Wang
Huming, whose work also appeared on Jersey’s
SEPAC flower stamps in September.
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese
New Year or the Spring Festival, is the most
important celebration in the Chinese calendar
and is celebrated by Chinese and ethnic
communities around the world. Each year,
children in Jersey’s schools learn about cultural
diversity and are encouraged to embrace
traditions observed in different countries,
learning to say ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy’, (Happy
New Year in Cantonese). The first in a new series
celebrates the start of the 2016 Lunar New Year
on 5 January, 2016 and introduces the monkey.The Chinese animal zodiac, or shengxiao
meaning ‘born resembling’, is a repeating cycle of
twelve years, with each year being represented by
an animal and its reputed attributes. Traditionally
these zodiac animals, also referred to as earthly
branches, were used to date the years together
with ten heavenly stems and are in a fixed order;
the monkey occupies the ninth position on
the Chinese zodiac. Each animal has symbolic
meanings given to it by the ancient Chinese and
people born in each animal’s year are said to have
some of that animal’s personality. Those born
in the year of the monkey are said to be smart,
quick-witted, optimistic, and ambitious.
The monkey shown on the 47p stamp and
the £1 miniature sheet is depicted as a playful
and curious animal, investigating the pattern of
leaves and flowers which surround him. A red-
based colour scheme pays tribute to the colour
of China’s national flag and the miniature sheet
carries Chinese New Year greetings.JERSEY
Mischievous monkey takes us
into Chinese New Year
Stamp details
Issue date: 5 January, 2016
Illustrations: Wang Huming,
Beijing, China
Printing: Cartor Security Printing, France
Print process: Offset lithography with
gold metallic ink and varnish
Stamp size: 36mm x 36mm
Miniature sheet: 95mm x 125mm
(stamp within 60mm x 60mm)
47p - playful and curious monkey on
red background
£1 – monkey in tree against
gold backgroundp36 Islands.indd 37 23/11/2015 14:31